Page 9 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL13

US-Thai Relationsand the Way ForwardThe new US ambassador to Thailand speaks candidly on the strength of the bilateral relationship, freedom of speech and the importance of ASEANI wouldn’t describe therelationship as fragile,although that’sthe perception of many.The truth is the relation-ship is very deep, robustand broad and to thebenefit of both Thailandand the USAHE Glyn T. Davies took up his country’s top diplomatic post in Thailand seven months ago, in the midst of a periodic flare-up of local anti-American sentiment. Comments by some US diplomats and officials on Thailand’s rights-curbing regime had been interpreted by some as interfering in Thailand’s national affairs. Formerly a senior adviser in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State and special representative of the US Secretary of State for North Korea policy, Ambassador Davies took up a post which had been vacant for nearly a year following the departure of former ambassador Kristie Kenney. He recently sat down with Elite+ to discuss his government’s views on the NCPO administration, freedom of speech in Thailand and the country’s role in ASEAN.What is the US position on the current Thai regime?After the coup, US law required the imposition of certain limits on our assistance to Thailand. What I want to emphasize is despite that, there is much more positive work that we do together that helps both Thailand and the USA. We have a very strong relationship that helps to provide stability and security in the region. We have a broad law enforcement relationship that guards against transnational crimes like human trafficking. We work on medical research together on everything from AIDS to malaria. Our business relationship is extensive. We have US$50 billion invested in the Kingdom with hundreds of American companies here. Our people to people relationship is significant. Some 7,000 Thais are studying in the USA. So we have a strong mutually beneficial relationship with Thailand.How did you feel being assigned to a post in Thailand when our countries’ relations are quite fragile?I wouldn’t describe the relationship as fragile, although that’s the perception of many. The truth is the relationship is very deep, robust and broad and to the benefit of both Thailand and the USA. It’s true that after the coup, there have been certain limits placed on our relationship that will remain until Thailand returns to a civilian elected government. But that hasn’t stopped or slowed down much of the progress that we have made in vital areas.Elite+ 7